Kovove Mater.

48 2010 41–46 41
DOI: 10.4149/km 2010 1 41

High temperature plastic deformation of CuZn30 brass

– calculation of the activation energy

R. Pernis1 *, J. Kasala1 , J. Bořuta2

1
Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín, Faculty of Special Technology, Študentská 1, 911 50 Trenčín, Slovak Republic
2
Materials and Metallurgy Research Ltd., Pohraniční 693/31, 706 02 Ostrava-Vítkovice, Czech Republic

Received 16 September 2009, received in revised form 26 October 2009, accepted 26 October 2009

Abstract
High temperature plastic deformation of CuZn30 brass was investigated in the temperature
range between 650 ◦C and 850 ◦C. Torsion tests were performed for experimental plan according
to test array 5 × 4, i.e. five temperatures 650, 700, 750, 800, 850 ◦C and four speeds of
torsion shear strain rate 0.5, 2.5, 12.5, and 25 s−1 . Mathematical model has been developed
to predict high-temperature shear stress behaviour of CuZn30 brass. Explicit equation, which
is a function of peak stress, temperature and shear strain rate, was used in the mathematical
model. There are four constants in the equation; one of those is the activation energy which
for CuZn30 brass reaches the value Q = 180.3 kJ mol−1 .
Measured and calculated values of shear stress are shown in graphs in dependence on the
value of deformation, where the temperature of deformation and the speed of deformation
are the parameters for the particular curves. The predicted results are in accordance with
the experimental curves stress-deformation that can be used to model the behaviour of hot
extrusion pressing of CuZn30 brass.

K e y w o r d s : brass CuZn30, torsion test, strain, flow stress, activation energy

1. Introduction to hot forming, the brass has lower formability. There-

CuZn30 brass belongs to the alpha brasses. Due
to its good cold plastic flow properties it is used in
technologies of deep drawing. Brass cups are tradi-
tionally manufactured from rolled semi products. High
amounts of material waste originate from the process
of cutting from the strips, so recycling in metallur-
gical plants is necessary [1]. Manufacturers have been
preparing projects that would launch the manufac-
ture of cups by no-waste technology from CuZn30
brass bars. Input semi products were replaced from
the strips manufactured by rolling with the brass bars
manufactured by hot extrusion pressing. This change
is connected with the transition to new technology
in metallurgical plants. Hot extrusion pressing resul-
ted to be critical operation in technological process of
CuZn30 brass bars manufacture [2]. In general, alpha
brasses have good cold forming properties. The brass
with 30 % zinc reaches the highest level of formability
for cold forming [3]. When CuZn30 brass is subjected
*Corresponding author: tel.: +421 32 7400210; e-mail address: pernis@tnuni.sk
fore, by applying hot working to this brass, forming
becomes hard. Flow stress at extrusion pressing of
CuZn30 brass significantly depends on temperature,
shear strain rate and area ratio. It has been shown that
alpha-beta brasses are characterized by excellent hot
forming properties. They are not so adaptable to cold
forming process and therefore cold formability reaches
lower values [4]. It is caused by change in the hard-
ness proportion of α- and β-phase. When α-phase is
cold formed, it has lower hardness than β-phase. On
the other hand, when α-phase is hot formed, it has
higher hardness than β-phase. The tension test is the
most common test to find out hot flow stress [5]. It is
not sufficient for hot forming processes at higher shear
strain rates. In the study of hot extrusion process of
CuZn30 brass, it is necessary to know the value of
the activation energy. Modelling of deformation pro-
cess through torsion plastometer was used to find out
the activation energy [6]. Course of stress in depend-
ence on deformation is observed during hot torsion
42 R. Pernis et al. / Kovove Mater. 48 2010 41–46
T a b l e 1. Chemical composition of CuZn30 brass for torsion tests
Element Cu Pb Sn
Content (%) 70.39 0.0004 0.0042
Element As Sb Bi
Content (%) 0.0001 0.0031 0.0001
Fig. 1. Characteristic points on the curve stress vs. deform-
ation.
test under defined conditions (geometry of specimen,
temperature and shear strain rate). Figure 1 shows the
characteristic course of the curve. The curve is char-
acterized by several points marked on it. The curve
where stress achieves the maximum value σ p has co-
ordinates [ϕp ; σ p ]. This stress is also known as peak
stress σ p . Deformation at which the maximal stress is
reached is ϕp . Coordinates [ϕi ; σ i ] characterize point
of inflection. The beginning of steady state of deform-
ation is characterized by coordinates [ϕss ; σ ss ], where
index ss has its origin in English (steady state).
2. Experimental procedure
2.1. Experimental material and experimental
plan
Deep drawing CuZn30 brass with chemical com-
position (see Table 1) was used for experimental hot
torsion tests. Bars with diameter 10 mm [7] and [8]
were used for the tests. Brass CuZn30 bars were
manufactured according to the following technological
process: melting in electric induction furnace, semi-
-continuous casting of billets, hot extrusion pressing
and final cold drawing. The test specimens manufac-
tured according to Fig. 2 were used for hot torsion
tests.
Hot torsion tests of CuZn30 brass were performed
according to the experimental plan consisting of the
test array 5 × 4. That is five temperatures 650, 700,
750, 800, 850 ◦C and four torsion shear strain rates 0.5,
2.5, 12.5, and 25 s−1 that correspond to true speed of
torsion 16, 80, 400, and 800 rpm.
Fe Ni Mn Al Si
0.0232 0.0022 0.0003 0.0012 0.0002
Cr Cd Ag P Zn
0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 balance
2.2. Mathematical formulas used in the
evaluation of experimental results
Mathematical relations applied in the evaluation
of measured data of torsion test are listed in Table 2.
Basic deformation resistance was calculated from
measured torque and axial force according to Eq. (1)
(Table 2). The calculation of logarithmic deforma-
tion during torsion test was determined by Eq. (2)
(Table 2). The value of torsion shear strain rate was
calculated from Eq. (3) (Table 2). Mathematical de-
scription of hot deformation proceeding from Garafal
empirical formula – Eq. (4) (Table 2) – for the de-
scription of high temperature deformation is stated by
Drastík et al. [6]. In this equation, the activation en-
ergy is the parameter for the specific material. “Activ-
ation energy” is the most frequently used term in ref-
erences; nevertheless, “the activation energy of plastic
deformation” is a more precise term [9]. The material
constants are determined on the basis of practically
measured and calculated data.
2.3. Experimental outcomes
Torsion tests were performed in compliance with
the experimental plan. The control computer was
used to record immediate values: torque, axial force,
temperature of specimen, speed of torsion and time
baseline. Several ten thousands of data were gathered
during the test; nevertheless, the question how to
represent them emerged. Thereby, their visualization
through graphs in coordinates of stress and deform-
ation was chosen, while temperature and the speed
of deformation are parameters. The results of torsion
test for particular four values of torsion shear strain
rates are in Figs. 3–6.
For particular temperatures, Fig. 7 shows curves of
maximum values of peak stress σ p in dependence on
natural logarithm of torsion shear strain rate γ̇.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Evaluation of measured data
To describe the curves in Fig. 7, Eq. (4) (Table 2)
was used. Material constants are determined by meas-
ured and calculated data. At first it is necessary to
 R. Pernis et al. / Kovove Mater. 48 2010 41–46 43

T a b l e 2. Mathematical relations applied in the evaluation of torsion test

Equation number Description Symbols Formulas

 2  2
√
3 · 3·Mk F
(1) Basic deformation resistance σ ZDO σZDO = +
2π · Rt3 π · Rt2

2

2π · Rt · ns

(2) Logarithmic deformation ϕ ϕ = √ arcsinh
3 3L

2π · Rt nr
(3) Torsion shear strain rate γ̇ γ̇ = ·
L 60
 
Q n
(4) f (σp ,T ,γ̇) = 0 – γ̇ · exp = C · [sinh (α · σp )]
RT

(5) Activation energy Q Q=k·n·R

 
Q
(6) Zener-Hollomon parameter Z Z = γ̇ · exp
RT

where
Mk – torque (N m) ns – number of torsion (–) n – material constant (–)
F – axial force (N) t – temperature ( ◦C) Q – activation energy (J mol−1 )
σp – peak stress (MPa) T – absolute temperature (K) C – material constant (s−1 )
Rt – radius of test specimen (mm) ϕ – logarithmic deformation (–) R – gas constant, R = 8.314 J K−1 mol−1
L – length of test specimen (mm) γ̇ – torsion shear strain rate (s−1 ) k – slope of the line in coordinates
nr – speed of torsion (rpm) α – material constant (MPa−1 ) ln sinh(α · σp ) vs. 1/T (K)

Fig. 2. Test specimen for hot torsion tests.

Fig. 4. Basic deformation resistance of CuZn30 brass for

torsion shear strain rate γ̇ = 2.5 s−1 .

determination of material constant was performed on

Fig. 3. Basic deformation resistance of CuZn30 brass for
torsion shear strain rate γ̇ = 0.5 s−1 .
specify the material constant α in order to determ-
ine remaining constants for Eq. (4) (Table 2). The
the basis of procedure recommended in [6] and [10–
12]. Constant α = 0.00927 MPa−1 was calculated for
hot deformation of CuZn30 brass.
To determine constant n for Eq. (4) (Table 2), we
need to linearize the equation. This can be achieved
through the use of logarithmic scale on both axes.
It requires displaying the scale on both axes where
the temperature is parameter. This requirement can
be ensured by the independent application of Eq. (4)
(Table 2) for each measured temperature. For temper-
atures 650, 700, 750, 800, and 850 ◦C we display five
lines in logarithmic coordinates of ln(sinh(α · σp )) and
ln γ̇ . Line plots are shown in Fig. 8.
44 R. Pernis et al. / Kovove Mater. 48 2010 41–46
Fig. 5. Basic deformation resistance of CuZn30 brass for
torsion shear strain rate γ̇ = 12.5 s−1 .
Fig. 6. Basic deformation resistance of CuZn30 brass for
torsion shear strain rate γ̇ = 25 s−1 .
Fig. 7. Peak stress of CuZn30 brass in coordinates of σ p
and ln γ̇ .
Parameter n is represented by the slope of the line.
Since five lines (for each temperature one) are dis-
played, the resulting constant n was set as an average
calculated from five values. The first estimation for
constant n is found to be 4.3679.
The known value of constant n enables us to de-
termine the activation energy in the next step. The
linearization of Eq. (4) (Table 2) is used likewise in
Fig. 8. Line plots at different temperatures determining
material constant n.
Fig. 9. Line plots describing the activation energy Q.
the process of the determination of the material con-
stant n. Coordinate system ln(sinh(α · σp )) vs. 1/T
is used for measured values where the speed of de-
formation is the parameter [13]. Figure 9 shows line
plots for the determination of the activation energy.
The value of slope of the line k was set as an average
calculated from four values in Fig. 9. The final value
of the activation energy for CuZn30 brass was calcu-
lated from Eq. (5) (Table 2). The calculated value of
the activation energy reaches Q = 180346 J mol−1 .
Constant C is the last material constant of Eq. (4)
(Table 2) describing high temperature deformation.
The Zener-Hollomon parameter Z [14] was used to de-
termine C (see Eq. (6) (Table 2)). Zener-Hollomon
parameter Z is determined from the known value of
the activation energy. The specific values of natural
logarithm of Zener-Hollomon parameter for high tem-
perature deformation behaviour of CuZn30 brass are
stated in Table 3.
The graph in coordinates of ln Z and ln (sinh(α ·
σp )) shown in Fig. 10 was drawn up by using data
from Table 3. The curve represents line which slope
of the line indicates improved material constant n =
4.2899. The slope of the line approximates to the value
of an initially estimated material parameter according
to Fig. 8.
 R. Pernis et al. / Kovove Mater. 48 2010 41–46 45

T a b l e 3. Natural logarithm of Zener-Hollomon parameter

t γ̇ σp x y
( ◦C) (s−1 ) (MPa) ln(sinh(α · σp )) ln Z

650 0.5 69.949 –0.3646 22.8046

650 2.5 99.580 0.0577 24.4141
650 12.5 133.370 0.4545 26.0235
650 25.0 148.815 0.6203 26.7166

700 0.5 53.739 –0.6563 21.5973

700 2.5 70.687 –0.3526 23.2068
700 12.5 104.608 0.1208 24.8162
700 25.0 119.576 0.2994 25.5093

750 0.5 48.168 –0.7737 20.5080

750 2.5 55.563 –0.6201 22.1174
750 12.5 93.895 –0.0161 23.7269
750 25.0 101.605 0.0833 24.4200

800 0.5 42.534 –0.9053 19.5202

800 2.5 49.683 –0.7406 21.1296
800 12.5 75.053 –0.2838 22.7391
800 25.0 81.654 –0.1852 23.4322

850 0.5 33.377 –1.1576 18.6204

850 2.5 37.258 –1.0437 20.2298
850 12.5 59.678 –0.5420 21.8392
850 25.0 61.211 –0.5140 22.5324

T a b l e 4. Material constants of Eq. (4) (Table 2), CuZn30 used for the first estimation of material parameter
brass n as an arithmetic average for particular temperat-
ures. Segment on y-axis determines natural logarithm
No. Material constants Units Value
of constant C. Constant C reaches the value 3.21603
1 α MPa−1 0.00927 × 1010 s−1 . This process has been used to estim-
2 n – 4.2899 ate the last and the fourth constant C for Eq. (4)
3 Q J mol−1 180 346 (Table 2), which describes high temperature deform-
4 C s−1 3.21603×1010 ation of CuZn30 brass. Calculated values of material
parameters for Eq. (4) (Table 2) are shown in Table 4.
Particular equation describing high temperature
deformation behaviour of CuZn30 brass was obtained
by mathematical treatment of Eq. (4) (Table 2) and
by using constants from Table 4:

σp = 107.87 · (A)
  0.2331
21691
· arcsinh 3.1095 × 10−11 · γ̇ · exp .
T

The equation represents the peak stress as a func-

tion of temperature and strain rate. The stress can be
considered to be the basic deformation resistance of
hot extrusion pressing of CuZn30 brass.
Fig. 10. Determination of constant C by using Zener-
-Hollomon parameter. 3.2. Discussion

Experimentally measured data from torsion tests

Comparing these two values we get the difference of CuZn30 brass and their evaluation confirmed the
∆n = 4.3679 – 4.2899 = 0.0780. This difference ori- validity of Eq. (4) (Table 2) for the description of high
ginates from imperfect calculation procedure that was temperature deformation behaviour. The proof is the
 46 R. Pernis et al. / Kovove Mater. 48 2010 41–46
plot of Zener-Hollomon parameter for the whole ex-
perimental range of temperatures and speeds given in
Fig. 10, where tight correlation was achieved (correl-
ation coefficient R2 = 0.97).
Measured data shown in graphs in Figs. 3–6 con-
firmed that dynamic recrystallization and softening
of deformed CuZn30 brass occur under certain con-
ditions of deformation (logarithmic deformation, tem-
perature and strain rate).
Achieved value of the activation energy enables us
to examine relations of CuZn30 brass between condi-
tions of deformation (strain rate, temperature of de-
formation) and microstructure (size of the grains) in
the next studies.
Equation (A) enables us to calculate the basic de-
formation resistance of CuZn30 brass in dependence
on temperature and strain rate. Equation (A) is par-
ticularly suitable for the calculation of pressure force
in extrusion pressing of brass CuZn30 bars.
4. Conclusions
Torsion test enabled us to verify suggested meth-
ods in forming, and their optimisation and simulation
[15–17]. Experimental tests allowed us to get the ba-
sic deformation resistance under different conditions
of deformation (temperature and strain rate). Fur-
ther, torsion test enabled us to get and verify data
about dynamic recovery, or dynamic recrystallization.
Technological tests of hot extrusion pressing confirm
([18] and [19]) that CuZn30 brass has low formability,
which is demonstrated in the occurrence of cross sur-
face cracks. This was confirmed through model torsion
tests under certain conditions. Peak stress, as the ba-
sic deformation resistance, enables us to calculate the
force of hot extrusion pressing CuZn30 billets under
working conditions.
Acknowledgements
The outcomes of the research of high temperat-
ure plastic deformations also served for the verification
of innovation activities within the 5th phase of MSM
2587080701 MŠMT ČR project.
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